Cobb Tuning Update, ECU Cracked - High Flow Cats Options

[Chuck_H]

The ‘uncrackable’ GT-R (R35) ECU

Some claims had been made to suggest the new Nissan GT-R ECU was encrypted and ‘uncrackable’. Well folks, we’ve ‘cracked’ it. Our own GT-R is a JDM version with the fun-sapping 180 kph (112mph) speed limiter. Thankfully, it can now be removed. We’ll continue to do more in-house testing and hopefully get some beta AccessPORTs out to the other two JDM GT-Rs in the US inflicted with the same speed limiter woes. By the time North American spec cars arrive, we should be well prepared and practiced in the art of tuning the GT-R’s ECU.

Stay tuned for more tuning updates as we begin to see what can be extracted from the new GT-R with some ECU tuning!

GT-R (R35) High Flow Cats

Stock:


Cobb:

The new GT-R is a hard car to improve on. Nissan has really carefully thought through nearly every aspect of the car to maximize well… everything. However in carefully inspecting it one of the areas we felt we could make some improvements on was the exhaust system. At the end of the day, the GT-R still utilizes mass manufacturing techniques in the construction of most components. While this certainly isn’t a performance inhibitor in some areas, it can certainly have a negative effect on trying to maximize performance and efficiency of expelling spent exhaust gas.

One of the first components we addressed was the stock catalytic converter section. We weren’t interested in simply removing the cats and turning the highly technical GT-R into a gross polluter… we’re one of those crazy companies that thinks you should be able to make power while still maintaining a suitable emissions profile. So, here you have our first prototype of a high flow cats constructed entirely in 304 Stainless Steel using metal substrate cats with full TIG welding. This will certainly be in production soon and available to both the world market and of course North American GT-R owners (off road use only in the US!) in the next few months once we’ve had ample time to test and refine the setup on our own car. Dyno results to be posted soon.

http://blogs.cobbtuning.com/

[masssrt]

can't wait for results

[aco]

I have never modified my exhaust. This may be a stupid question, but why are high flow cats "off road use only"? If the catalytic converters are present, couldn't they still pass emissions testing?

[olyar15]

I have never modified my exhaust. This may be a stupid question, but why are high flow cats "off road use only"? If the catalytic converters are present, couldn't they still pass emissions testing?

I believe there are regulations regarding cat replacement. Also, my experience with high-flow cats on a 300ZX showed that they had a lot of trouble passing exhaust emission levels.

[Scotts-GTR]

I am favorite this.

[the King]

I will take one cracked ECU please.
Cost? JDM GT-R for the Caribbean(Jamaica)= shipping and handling included?

[yacoub]

yes, "off-road" status is related to emissions primarily, though it can also be related to noise levels.
exciting to see the ECU cracked already. that's a good sign of things to come!

[Arch5]

"off-road use only" is also a way the manufacturer can avoid the hassels of getting things DOT approved and leave all the liability for fines on the consumer. You'll see quite a few after market items stamped "off-road use only."


BTW...great job Cobb!!!! Those look like they'll flow MUCH better than those stock stuffed burritos. Should see some great gains since it's for a turbo application. My 350z gained ~9hp by putting a set of high-flow cats on.

Question: Are you guys replacing all 4 cats, or are you deleting two with this set-up?

This post has been edited by Arch5: Apr 2 2008, 01:53 PM

[MAXXSTEEL]

looks promising

[Fast GTR]

SO lets say I get caught with these on by the police one day.

I live in California, what type of problems might arise for me?

This post has been edited by Fast GTR: Apr 2 2008, 03:51 PM

[masssrt]

So if you take it 'off road', that will have less of an impact on the environment I suppose?

[GranTuRismo]

SO lets say I get caught wiht these on by the police one day.

I live in California, what type of problems might arise for me?

Most likely you will get fined and/or have to provide proof of correction back to stock via inspection. Depends on the cop, I too live in CA and have heard some horror stories on savvy police coming down on modded cars.

[ShahulX]

they would never know unless you had no cats and were spitting soot and black smoke....

I'd like 2 high flow cats, dismiss the other 2 ... And a full titanium form there back

Thanks Cobb, go American tuners!!

[timechaser]

Impressive!

Now - who can tell me how to get in touch these boys at Cobb Tuning. I am in Singapore and a bunch of us are immensely interested in getting our hands on the AccessPORTs...

Of course we have a bunch of other questions as well about the JDM cars which our Japanese brethren are wholly unprepared to answer!

Chuck - or whoever has contact details. Please PM me if you dont want to put up on the board. I am serious about this question.

[ShahulX]

just google Cobb tuning... They are pretty east to get ahold of... If I could post links from my iPhone I'd do it for you

[the King]

I'll take the Mine's cat. It maybe a bit more street legal. Cobbs is closer home so I am very interested in that cracking sound I hear.

[Trey@COBB]

Thanks for the support guys!

On the 'off road use' issue, the situation is that it is simply illegal for you to replace ANY of the factory emissions equipment on a new car. Even if you are beyond the year/mileage limits of the regulation, you still have to replace with a certified OBD-II cat which currently don't officially exist in the US.

So while the emissions output will be very close to stock and even if you still pass the emissions 'sniffer' test, to the letter of the law it is not a legal modification. This is the same if you buy our cats, Mine's, or anyone elses OTHER THAN stock Nissan. To be honest, to the letter of the law even if you REDUCE emissions from what the stock car produced it would still not be technically legal because the law doesn't just state the car has to pass emissions testing but also that you cannot alter the factory emissions equipment. That includes altering it in a manner that may improve it. Silly, I know, but those are the laws. There are certification processes you can go through, as we are doing with the intakes, but currently for the catalytic converters there are no approved solutions for OBD-II cars.

So anything we offer that may alter the emissions equipment on the vehicle has to be used by off-road racing vehicles only. If you're in California (or really anywhere in the US), don't touch those items if you're planning on driving your car on public roads and you'll be legal. There are a LOT of guys contacting us already that only plan on track driving their GT-Rs, which is why we developed this part.

The 'cat-back' section is open from an EPA point-of-view but there are still other laws that must be met such as the SAE J1169 mandated sound requirements (95 dB) and some other safety related requirements. The also applies to other countries as well. The ADR in Australia, Japan is getting much more strict particularly with exhaust modifications, you have the various laws in the EU and in particular the very tough TUV in Germany. That's not to say the aftermarket will go away, but we have to be more professional about the way we operate. Simple as that.

If anyone has any specific questions for me in particular about the GT-R, feel free to post here or email me directly at trey (at) cobbtuning.com. I'm doing part of the GT-R ECU discovery and tuning so I'm happy to answer any technical questions you have. I don't know everything, obviously, but I'm happy to share with others what I know.

Cheers,
Trey @ COBB

[MindlessOath]

trey. what do you think about using MOTEC ecu replacement? or even the Greddy E-Manage Ultimate?
do you think they would be great solutions for the GT-R? or are you just not there yet.

also. i know past nissans had to replace the whole ECU to tune it. (actually modify the ecu chips internaly itself). how will accessPort play a roll if thats the the thing here?

are you actually able to write to the ECU using accessport?

[aco]

Thank you Trey for the very clear answer to my "off road use" question. As I am not in the first year allocation market, I have yet to decide if this will be a track only car.

[yacoub]

they would never know unless you had no cats and were spitting soot and black smoke flames....

:D